Sukta 10
Sukta 3.10
Gāthina Viśvāmitra (traditional for RV 3.10)
Agni
Gāyatrī or Trishtubh (verify in critical edition)
This hymn praises Agni as the sovereign king among the peoples and the indispensable Hotṛ who makes the sacrifice whole. It emphasizes that both seers and ordinary mortals kindle him in the rite, and that he bears the inspired “lights” (jyotīṃṣi) of the vipras, carrying offerings to the gods and increasing human strength and capacity.
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्वामग्ने मनीषिणः सम्राजं चर्षणीनाम् । देवं मर्तास इन्धते समध्वरे ॥
ऋषि लोग अग्नि को जलाते हैं। वो सब लोगों का राजा है। इंसान भगवान को इस पूजा में जगाते हैं।
Mantra 2
त्वां यज्ञेष्वृत्विजमग्ने होतारमीळते । गोपा ऋतस्य दीदिहि स्वे दमे ॥
यज्ञ में लोग अग्नि को पुकारते हैं। वो पुजारी बन के आता है। अपने घर में सच्चाई की रक्षा करो, ऐसा चमक।
Mantra 3
स घा यस्ते ददाशति समिधा जातवेदसे । सो अग्ने धत्ते सुवीर्यं स पुष्यति ॥
जो इंसान अग्नि को समिधा देता है, उसे घी देता है, वो आगे बढ़ता है। उसमें ताकत आती है, वो अपने काम में सफल होता है।
Mantra 4
स केतुरध्वराणामग्निर्देवेभिरा गमत् । अञ्जानः सप्त होतृभिर्हविष्मते ॥
अग्नि हमें सही रास्ता दिखाता है। वो भगवान लोगों के साथ आए। सात पुजारी उसके साथ हैं, जो इंसान हवन कर रहा है उसके पास।
Mantra 5
प्र होत्रे पूर्व्यं वचोऽग्नये भरता बृहत् । विपां ज्योतींषि बिभ्रते न वेधसे ॥
अग्नि के लिए पुराना शब्द लाओ, जो बड़ा और फैलता है। यह वो अग्नि है जो सबसे पहले पूजा करता है। वो रिशियों के ज्योति को पकड़ता है और उन्हे काम में लगाता है।
Mantra 6
अग्निं वर्धन्तु नो गिरो यतो जायत उक्थ्यः । महे वाजाय द्रविणाय दर्शतः ॥
हमारी बातें अग्नि को बड़ा करें। उससे ही तो वो शक्ति पैदा होती है जो जीत लाती है। वो हमें बड़ी ताकत और धन दे, और हमें साफ दिखे।
Mantra 7
अग्ने यजिष्ठो अध्वरे देवान्देवयते यज । होता मन्द्रो वि राजस्यति स्रिधः ॥
अग्नि, तू यज्ञ में सबसे अच्छा है। भगवान को भगवान ढूंढने वाले के लिए भेज। तू खुशी से पूजा करता है, अपनी ताकत दिखा और रास्ते के रुकावटों को पार कर।
Mantra 8
स नः पावक दीदिहि द्युमदस्मे सुवीर्यम् । भवा स्तोतृभ्यो अन्तमः स्वस्तये ॥
अग्नि, तू साफ करने वाला है, हमारे लिए चमक। हमारे अंदर चमकदार ताकत डाल। जो लोग तुझे गाते हैं, उनके सबसे करीब बन जा, हमारे भले के लिए।
Mantra 9
तं त्वा विप्रा विपन्यवो जागृवांसः समिन्धते । हव्यवाहममर्त्यं सहोवृधम् ॥
रिशि लोग जाग के तुझे जलाते हैं, वो भगवान ढूंढते हैं। तू हवन ले जाता है, तू अमर है और ताकत बढ़ाता है। तू हमारे अंदर भगवान का काम बर्दाश्त करने की शमता बढ़ाता है।
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is invoked as the sovereign king of the peoples, kindled by seers and mortals in the rite (RV 3.10.1).
- Development
The hymn deepens Agni’s priestly identity: the ancient, expansive word is brought to him, and he is lauded as the effective maker (vedhas) who bears the vipras’ lights (RV 3.10.5).
- Climax
Agni is affirmed as Havyavāha—immortal carrier of offerings—who actively increases strength and capacity (sahas) for the work (RV 3.10.9).
- Where it settles
The praise settles into confident dependence on Agni’s mediation: once kindled and rightly addressed, he completes the sacrifice and empowers the worshippers.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the divine Fire—Hotṛ (priest), Havyavāha (carrier of offerings), and the radiant power kindled by seers and mortals in the adhvara. He is praised as samrāj of the peoples and as the skilled ordainer (vedhas) who bears the illuminations of the inspired.
- Cosmic functionMediator between human and divine realms: he conveys oblations to the gods, maintains the sacrificial order (ṛta) through ritual fire, and manifests light/energy that sustains life and worship.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discerning flame of consciousness that receives intention, refines it, and lifts it upward—transforming impulse into offering and clarity into effective action.
The seer
- Gāthina ViśvāmitraViśvāmitra (Gāthina) line; traditionally of the Kuśika/Viśvāmitra family · Foremost ṛṣi of the Viśvāmitra family, celebrated for powerful Agni and Indra hymns and for shaping key Vedic prayer-forms; later tradition associates him with the Gāyatrī mantra.
Famous verses
samrājaṃ carṣaṇīnām
pūrvyam vacaḥ
havyavāham amartyam
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (invoking priest)
- Havyavāha (oblation-bearer)
- Samrāj (sovereign among peoples)
- Amartya (immortal)
- Sahovṛdh (increaser of strength/power)
- Bearer of vipras’ lights (jyotīṃṣi)
Also by this seer
- A large portion of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 is attributed to the Viśvāmitras (including many Agni and Indra sūktas).
- Tradition connects Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī (RV 3.62.10) and with royal-sage narratives in later Vedic/Itihāsa-Purāṇa literature.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/āhavanīya space and arrange kindling (samidh) and kuśa.
- Kindle Agni with focused recitation, acknowledging him as samrāj and Hotṛ.
- Offer ghee into the fire with brief invocations, asking Agni to carry offerings well.
- Recite the ‘ancient word’ (pūrvyam vacaḥ)—traditional praise—expanding it as bṛhat (vast).
- Conclude with a sealing praise of Agni as havyavāha, amartya, and sahovṛdh, requesting increased strength and successful rite.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Optional: grain/oblations appropriate to household agnihotra-style practice
Frequently Asked Questions
It teaches that Agni is the central priestly power of the sacrifice—sovereign among peoples—who must be kindled and praised so he can carry offerings to the gods and make the rite effective.
Because Agni presides over the ritual community: he unites the people in worship, governs the sacrificial process as Hotṛ, and ensures the offerings reach the divine realm.
It means Agni supports and carries the inspired insights (jyotīṃṣi) of the seers—turning their prayers and illuminations into effective action within the ritual and within the worshipper.
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